Rowan Garter Stitch Jacket Cardigan Knitting Pattern

Rowan Garter Stitch Jacket

What is Being Made

The Rowan Garter Stitch Jacket is a baby cardigan designed for infants ranging from newborn through 18 months. This downloadable knitting pattern, created by Quail Studio and published by MEZ Crafts UK Ltd., produces a classic, simple cardigan suitable for layering over baby clothing. The design is available in five size ranges: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, 9-12 months, and 12-18 months.

Construction Method

This cardigan is worked flat on straight needles and constructed bottom-up, meaning knitting begins at the lower edge and progresses upward toward the shoulders. The garment is seamed together after individual pieces are completed, rather than being worked in the round. This traditional flat construction method allows for straightforward shaping and makes it easy to incorporate buttonholes along the front edge.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The entire garment is worked in garter stitch, the fundamental stitch that gives this pattern its name. Garter stitch is created by knitting every row, producing a reversible fabric with distinctive horizontal ridges on both sides. This makes the cardigan equally attractive whether viewed from the front or back.

Beyond the basic garter stitch, the pattern employs several shaping techniques:

• Yarn overs (yrn) paired with decreases to create buttonholes along the right front edge
• Knit two together (K2tog) decreases for armhole shaping and front edge tapering
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (Sl 1, K1, psso) decreases for symmetrical armhole and neckline shaping
• Cast off techniques to bind off stitches and finish edges
• Stitch holders to temporarily hold stitches while working other sections

The pattern includes five buttonholes spaced evenly along the front, with the exact spacing adjusted for each size range. Armhole shaping is achieved through strategic decreases worked on both sides of the garment pieces, creating a fitted sleeve cap.

Materials and Tools

This pattern requires 4mm (US 6) needles for the main fabric. The recommended yarn is Baby Merino Silk DK in the colorway Deep 682, with yardage requirements of 3, 3, 4, 4, or 5 balls of 50g depending on the size selected. The DK weight yarn combined with 4mm needles produces a tension of 22 stitches and 46 rows to 10cm (4 inches) when measured over garter stitch.

Additional notions required include stitch holders for managing stitches during construction and 5, 5, 7, 7, or 7 buttons (depending on size) to fasten the cardigan front.

Pattern Structure

The cardigan is constructed in separate pieces: a back, left front, and right front. The back piece is cast on with the largest stitch count and worked straight until the armhole depth is reached, then stitches are cast off at both sides to create the armhole opening. The front pieces are smaller and include shaping along the neckline edge in addition to armhole decreases. The right front incorporates the buttonhole row, which is worked by combining a yarn over with a decrease to create an eyelet opening for buttons.